Last Chance
Aesop’s Fables, presented by Kentwood Players, Saturdays through August 15, 11am and 2pm, $10, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester, 310.645.5156.
Drive, a play by Emily Dodi, through August 15, 8pm Fridays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, $18, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester, 310.645.5156.
Field of Vision, art by students in the SMC Emeritus art program, exhibit 2, through August 14, Emeritus College, 1227 2nd St., 310.434.4306.
Carole Garland, Ernie Marjoram, Ellen Starr, art exhibit, through August 15, TAG Gallery, 2903 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.829.9556.
Mutiny at Port Chicago, a play by Paul Leaf based on a true Navy incident, through August 15, 8pm Fridays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, $15-$20, Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave., 310.397.3244.
Night Town, group show of art inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses, through August 19, Gallery Luisotti, Bergamot Station, 310.453.0043.
Topanga World Music and Dance Festival, through August 16, dance workshops with drum accompaniment, 8-10pm Thursday, 9:30am-10pm Friday, 9:30am-9:30pm Saturday-Sunday, all classes $15, Yoga Desa,120 N. Topanga Cyn Blvd., Pine Tree Circle Center, and Froggy’s Restaurant,1105 N. Topanga Cyn. Blvd., Topanga, 310.876.8017.
THIS WEEK
August 14
Animal Instinct, art exhibit about animals, reception 6-8pm, through September 5, Topanga Canyon Gallery, 120 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Pine Tree Circle #109, 310.455.7909.
Crossing The Bridge, an original comedic melodrama, 8pm, $15, The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, 818. 618.4772.
Circle of Friends, benefit featuring three local bands, 6-9 pm, free, West LA Starbucks 11705 National Blvd., LA, 310.312.6600.
August 15
Backbone Trail Hike, 2-3:30pm, free, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Visitor Center, 401 West Hillcrest Dr.,Thousand Oaks, 805.370.2343.
Green Living Workshop, overview of six-week series, 10am-1pm, register at sustainableworks.eventbrite.com, Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., 310.829.7081.
August 16
An Afternoon in Santa Monica, with music and tapas, in support of PATH Partners (People Assisting the Homeless), 2-5pm, $75 per person or $250 sponsor/$500 benefactor, home of Richard and Robbie Bloom, richardb@pathpartners.org or 323.644.2214.
Peter Alsop’s Kids Koncerts presents Barney Saltzberg, 11am, $8, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.3723.
Judith Pacht celebrates the publication of her chapbook of poetry User’s Guide, 3pm, free, Diesel, A Bookstore, Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., Suite 33, 510.653.9965.
August 17
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore is discussed by the Meetup Book Group, 7pm, free, Community Meeting Room, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Forgotten Tenor, documentary about bebop saxophonist Wardell Gray, with other jazz films, 7:30pm, free, 7 Dudley Cinema, Talking Stick Coffee House, 1411 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, 310.450.6052.
August 18
Beauty Academy of Kabul, documentary about Gypsy bands by Albert Maysles, 7pm, free, Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.450.0443.
Chautauqua Series presents California’s Burning Questions, with Richard W. Halsey of the California Chaparral Institute, 7:30pm, free, Rubell Memorial Lawn, Temescal Canyon Park, 1501 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.858.7272 x117.
Erin Gruwell, author of The Freedom Writers Diary, lectures, 2pm, free, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500.
Jenny Factor and David St. John, poetry, 6:30-8:30pm, free, Garden Terrace Room, Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 PCH, beachhouse.smgov.net.
The Reader, film with Kate Winslet’s award-winning performance as a woman with a mysterious past, 6:30pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
August 19
Creating a Children’s Book, with author and teacher Steve Reifman, 2pm, free, Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., 310.829.7081.
Personal History, by Katharine Graham, is discussed by the Book Group, 7pm, free, Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., 310.829.7081.
August 20
Susan Shapiro discusses and signs Speed Shrinking, 7pm, free, Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes, 6pm, free, Fowler Museum at UCLA, WW, 310.825.4288.
Mark Your Calendar
Activist Support Circle Picnic, August 31
Patti Smith, Twilight Dance Series, September 3
Santa Monica Pier Centennial, September 9
Communitas Awards, September 12